Thread: Opinion on this pitting please

Originally Posted by pinklather

You're right to question what hides in that area. The only way to know is to do some initial bevel grinding to see if it hides further gremlins or that you can find clean steel. I've had similar blades where the elimination of one nick from pitting - only exposed another one. The odd thing is that it still took a wonderful edge and gave a great shave - nicks & all.

I saw one nice razor with one small black spot that went completely through the blade. You never know what's under there.

I have a big Wostenholm with a spine much larger than 1/4 inch. A touch-up revealed a major pit in the edge near the toe. I have resisted honing it to get past bad metal into good because I'm pretty sure what awaits me. Not honing it has allowed me to entertain the possibility that it still has life left in it, but I'm afraid the reality of the status of the blade will be revealed by more honing. One of these days, I'm going to get to work on it with my Chosera 1K or perhaps even my DMT 325. The sad prospect of what awaits me has kept me from doing it for over a year. It is an easy thing to put off. It is truly a sad thing to have a 9/8 blade, a near wedge, that may, in the end, be totally useless. Pitting can be a very bad thing.

Well, I worked on it some more after I took those photos and many ended up not being too deep, thankfully.

I would say go for it, it would be awesome if it still has gas in the tank.

Originally Posted by ace

I have a big Wostenholm with a spine much larger than 1/4 inch. A touch-up revealed a major pit in the edge near the toe. I have resisted honing it to get past bad metal into good because I'm pretty sure what awaits me. Not honing it has allowed me to entertain the possibility that it still has life left in it, but I'm afraid the reality of the status of the blade will be revealed by more honing. One of these days, I'm going to get to work on it with my Chosera 1K or perhaps even my DMT 325. The sad prospect of what awaits me has kept me from doing it for over a year. It is an easy thing to put off. It is truly a sad thing to have a 9/8 blade, a near wedge, that may, in the end, be totally useless. Pitting can be a very bad thing.

Ace,
If I am going to do some corrective work like you are talking about, I usually start with the DMT and hold it at about a 45 degree angle to shape it right & get it "close" to where I want it. Then I will double tape the spine and do the last blade correction with DMT. Then I bevel set on water stones with one layer of tape, followed by no tape (I don't use tape on my personal razors). This method seems to save the wear on the spine and is most effective for me.

Originally Posted by ace

I have a big Wostenholm with a spine much larger than 1/4 inch. A touch-up revealed a major pit in the edge near the toe. I have resisted honing it to get past bad metal into good because I'm pretty sure what awaits me. Not honing it has allowed me to entertain the possibility that it still has life left in it, but I'm afraid the reality of the status of the blade will be revealed by more honing. One of these days, I'm going to get to work on it with my Chosera 1K or perhaps even my DMT 325. The sad prospect of what awaits me has kept me from doing it for over a year. It is an easy thing to put off. It is truly a sad thing to have a 9/8 blade, a near wedge, that may, in the end, be totally useless. Pitting can be a very bad thing.

Regrind into the biggest spanish tip you ever saw.

Originally Posted by kcb5150

The moral of this story is, if you are blind as a bat and going to look at antiques, bring a loupe with you to look at the business end of a straight you are thinking of buying...

I think I lucked out in that regard so far, but the loupe that's arriving tomorrow with a 12k will spill the beans.

Originally Posted by ace

I have a big Wostenholm with a spine much larger than 1/4 inch. A touch-up revealed a major pit in the edge near the toe. I have resisted honing it to get past bad metal into good because I'm pretty sure what awaits me. Not honing it has allowed me to entertain the possibility that it still has life left in it, but I'm afraid the reality of the status of the blade will be revealed by more honing. One of these days, I'm going to get to work on it with my Chosera 1K or perhaps even my DMT 325. The sad prospect of what awaits me has kept me from doing it for over a year. It is an easy thing to put off. It is truly a sad thing to have a 9/8 blade, a near wedge, that may, in the end, be totally useless. Pitting can be a very bad thing.

@ace,
Have you considered doing a heel out mod? I'm pretty new to straights, but the task wasn't that difficult at all. I like the way it looks to boot. Also, I did it on Sheffield steel, FWIW.